GitHub Flavored Markdown

GitHub uses "GitHub Flavored Markdown," or GFM, across the site--in issues, comments, and pull requests. It differs from standard Markdown (SM) in a few significant ways, and adds some additional functionality.

If you're not already familiar with Markdown, take a look at Markdown Basics. If you'd like to know more about features that are available in issues, comments, and pull request descriptions, such as task lists, read Writing on GitHub.

Strikethrough

GFM adds syntax to create strikethrough text, which is missing from standard Markdown.

~~Mistaken text.~~

becomes

Mistaken text.

Fenced code blocks

Standard Markdown converts text with four spaces at the beginning of each line into a code block; GFM also supports fenced blocks. Just wrap your code in ``` (as shown below) and you won't need to indent it by four spaces. Note that although fenced code blocks don't have to be preceded by a blank line—unlike indented code blocks—we recommend placing a blank line before them to make the raw Markdown easier to read.

Here's an example:
```
function test() {
console.log("notice the blank line before this function?");
}
```

Keep in mind that, within lists, you must indent non-fenced code blocks eight spaces to render them properly.

Syntax highlighting

Code blocks can be taken a step further by adding syntax highlighting. In your fenced block, add an optional language identifier and we'll run it through syntax highlighting. For example, to syntax highlight Ruby code: